The Supreme Court, on Thursday, sternly criticized a lawyer for alleging nepotism in the recent designation of 70 Senior Advocates by the Delhi High Court. The Bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan strongly refuted claims suggesting that relatives of judges were being unfairly elevated.
“How many judges can you name whose offspring have been made seniors?” the Court questioned advocate Mathews J Nedumpara, one of the petitioners challenging the designation process. Nedumpara responded by claiming to have submitted a chart to support his assertions. However, the Bench dismissed the evidence as inadequate and warned of consequences if the allegations were not removed from the petition.
“We will grant you liberty to amend the plea, and if it is not amended, we will take steps accordingly,” the Bench cautioned.
Justice Gavai further admonished the petitioner for making generalized accusations, stating, “This is a court of law and not azaad maidan of Bombay to make speeches. Make legal arguments and not for the gallery.”
The Court granted time to the counsel to reconsider the allegations and amend the petition. It also issued a stark warning, emphasizing, “A lawyer who is signatory to such a petition is also guilty of contempt.”
The controversy surrounding the recent designation process has been escalating. Senior Advocate Sudhir Nandrajog, a member of the Permanent Committee overseeing the designations, resigned, alleging procedural irregularities. Nandrajog, the Delhi government’s representative on the panel, claimed that the final list circulated for deliberation was prepared in his absence, as he was occupied with arbitration. Allegations of tampering with the original list further fueled the dispute.
